Dave Ramsey says: Some financial splurges are OK — if you can afford it

Dear Dave,

We’re debt-free except for our house. I’ve been talking to a friend about how much money to allow for fun in your budget. The other day we bought a $100 bottle of wine, and she thought that was unreasonable. What’s your opinion?

Beth

Dear Beth,

Something like that depends entirely on your overall financial situation. Buying a $100 bottle of wine is pretty stupid if you only make $20,000 a year. It’s not unreasonable, though, if you make $200,000 a year. Having a great income-to-asset ratio and living debt-free gives you the opportunity to relax and enjoy a few things.

You’ve got to take the whole picture into account. I know a guy who makes well over $15 million a year, and he bought a $200,000 car. As a ratio, that’s a very small percentage of his income. So, it’s kind of silly to say an item is too expensive, or an irresponsible purchase, based on price alone.

— Dave

* Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 13 million listeners each week on 585 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

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